By Chris Williams: Recently, Bob Arum, the promoter for Manny Pacquiao, suggested that if Juan Manuel Marquez were to prove himself by facing and beating WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto it could help him get a fight against Pacquiao. Would Arum feel the same way if Marquez were to take one of his Top Rank stable fighters Antonio Margarito or Joshua Clottey? Goodness knows, both of them could certainly use a big win right now at this point of their careers given that each of them were just humiliated by Pacquiao in one-sided 12 round decisions.

Marquez would actually be helping Arum by taking one of them on because it could only increase their value in the public’s eye if they were able to beat a guy like Marquez. heck, it would even help Margarito and Clottey even if Marquez whips them both. Arum needs these fighters to face quality opposition and if Marquez fights them, it sure would help Margarito, Clottey and especially Arum.

I say forget about Marquez having to face Berto in order to get a shot against Pacquiao. Arum needs to let Marquez beat up on Margarito or Clottey and then let him get his 3rd fight with Pacquiao so that fans can actually see an exciting fight involving Pacquiao for a change. It gets tiring watching him beat up on Arum’s Top Rank fodder over and over again. They need to bring in some new blood like Marquez so that boxing fans can get a real treat instead of the mismatches that have been served up in the past two years.